Army fired 1.3 million pellets at protesters in Kashmir, reveals CRPF report

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) report states that the Indian Army used 1.3 million pellets in to control street protests across the state.

Srinagar, Aug 19: Unrest in the Kashmir Valley continued to cripple normal life for the 42nd consecutive day today. In a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) report that was submitted to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, revelations state that the Indian Army has used 1.3 million pellets in to control street protests across the state.

According to CRPF Inspector-general, 8,650 tear smoke shells were used from July 8 to August 11 against the protestors while around 2,671 plastic pellets have been used too. Pellet guns use has been criticized by the political parties as well as human rights community, as quoted by Pakistani channel, Channel 24. (ALSO READ: Kashmir unrest: National Conference blames CM Mehbooba Mufti for worsening situation in the valley)

Forces have been heavily deployed to foil separatist protests. According to reports, in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on pellet guns that has left more than 400 injured in their eyes. Also, the CRPF has submitted its affidavit in the court in which stated that 3,000 pellet cartridges or around 1.3 million pellets had been fired from the pump action guns, CRPF stated. The Court was informed that Pellet guns had been introduced in 2010 as an accepted weapon for riot control. (ALSO READ: Kashmir unrest: 60 terrorists sneak into Jammu and Kashmir taking advantage of clashes in the valley)

In the release it was mentioned that the CRPF said it has used 14 types of “less lethal and non-lethal” munitions to control crowds, including oleoresin grenades, pepper balls, stun grenades and electric shells. People in the Kashmir Valley have been suffering from shortage of food. Also, opposition parties like Congress and National Conference blamed Mehbooba Mufti government and the Centre for the ongoing situation in the Valley and said that nothing has been done so far to bring the situation to normal.